Alaska Cruiser Trek 2008

[desertgirl66]

Man, after reading this thread---I long to see the wildness of Alaska again and hang out with you guys around the campfire until 3:00 am!

This has got to be one of the greatest life changing events ever. The BEST people , awesome drivers and rigs and awesome scenery. It is sooo cool to see families out together and playing in the mud together

Mark, that is great that you got Melanie an 80!! Next comes the roof top tent

Look forward to following this thread---and lots of pictures after!!

Happy Trails all!!

Kristina

 

[rusty_tlc]

Any chance a triple locked 100 on 35's could handle it? I'll have some kind of OME lift, sliders and some other stuff on it by then.

We are already planning to drive from Reno to Fairbanks next summer. Looks like Tok is on the way.

An '80 with lockers is an ideal rig for what we'll be doing next summer.

Mark...

What about the 100 would make it less suitable?

 

[Mark W]

Can't say for sure. Never seen a 100 on the trails around here. If it's suitably tired and locked and you don't mind getting it wet, dirty and muddy, then for this particular run a 100 should do just fine.

But this won't be a fire road run. We'll be seeing 3-4 foot deep crossings. more than a couple. Depending on exactly how things work out, mud and brush may be little more than a minor concern. Or we may see a lot of both.

The reason I say that an '80 would be an ideal rig is because of it's performance as a road tripper to get here coupled with its off road abilities. What it gives up to the V8 powered, bogger tired '40s on the trails is balanced by how nice the run up will be in a well set up '80.


Mark...

 

[rusty_tlc]

Can't say for sure. Never seen a 100 on the trails around here. If it's suitably tired and locked and you don't mind getting it wet, dirty and muddy, then for this particular run a 100 should do just fine.

But this won't be a fire road run. We'll be seeing 3-4 foot deep crossings. more than a couple. Depending on exactly how things work out, mud and brush may be little more than a minor concern. Or we may see a lot of both.

The reason I say that an '80 would be an ideal rig is because of it's performance as a road tripper to get here coupled with its off road abilities. What it gives up to the V8 powered, bogger tired '40s on the trails is balanced by how nice the run up will be in a well set up '80.


Mark...

Gotcha.

 

[Mark W]

Rusty, I just realized that you asked if a triple locked '100 would be up to the run, not an '80.

I wasn't trying to slight the '100, I just read through your post to fast.

If you're willing to use the rig on the trails, then it should do just fine for this trip. And like the '80, it would probably be an ideal mixture of road manners and off road performance.


Mark...

 

[rusty_tlc]

Rusty, I just realized that you asked if a triple locked '100 would be up to the run, not an '80.

I wasn't trying to slight the '100, I just read through your post to fast.

If you're willing to use the rig on the trails, then it should do just fine for this trip. And like the '80, it would probably be an ideal mixture of road manners and off road performance.


Mark...

No problem, I kinda figured as much.

I've already modified the paint scheme a little.

 

[Dave-T]

...a life changing trip

The camaraderie of Mark, the Cruiser Crew along with Alaska will spoil you.

Photos of ACT06

Not a day goes by without thinking of this experience - Wish we could be there in 2008






:::::

Those are some great pictures. Thanks for sharing the album.

 

[Bryan062087]

This is like my dream trip...

 

[peterb]

Mark
I received my "Alaska Milepost" today. Any sections you suggest?
Thanks
Peter

 

[concretejungle]

I know a lot of big talk goes into this trip, but i've been wanting to make this trip ever since i first heard about it. Our trips here in the smoky mountains of NC try to mimic the expedition type trip that you put on in Alaska.

I have switched jobs 3 times in the past 3 years which has financially kept me from going. I am absolutely going to try to make this trip.

If i were to ship my cruiser from NC to Washington; how long do you think it would take me to drive it up from Washington to the meeting spot in Alaska?

 

[Ducks]

It's 2,000 miles from Seattle to Tok. I've heard it takes 2 to 4 days depending on how hard you push yourself. According to Google it takes 39 hours.

 

[concretejungle]

It's 2,000 miles from Seattle to Tok. I've heard it takes 2 to 4 days depending on how hard you push yourself. According to Google it takes 39 hours.

Holy S$!T that's a lot longer than i expected. I may scratch that idea. So what'st he best bet for getting your rig up there? Can you train ship it all the way to Alaska? According to streets and trips, from High Point, NC to Tok alaska, it's 4012 miles!!! My tires would be worn out by the time i got there, plus i would have spent $2,000 in gas.

 

[coldtaco]

One thing people do is drive to Bellingham and get on the Alaska State Ferry to Haines. It would be a good days drive from Haines to Tok. I don't know how long the ferry takes, but I would guess 3 days maybe? Also, it's not really cheap either, it costs as much as driving, at least in gas and hotel bills. But for one way it sure would be worth it for the views.

 

[Ducks]

I was just looking at that. Looking at the time tables, it looks like it takes 60 hours to get from Bellingham to Haines. Would be relaxing and scenic. Haines to Tok is another 10 hours.

http://dot.state.ak.us/amhs

 

[Alaska Ranger]

Mark: If your Trek group does NOT stop by and say hi at the end of what sounds like a GREAT trip, I personally will revoke forever your Paxson visa

 

[atoyot]

Holy S$!T that's a lot longer than i expected. I may scratch that idea. So what'st he best bet for getting your rig up there? Can you train ship it all the way to Alaska? According to streets and trips, from High Point, NC to Tok alaska, it's 4012 miles!!! My tires would be worn out by the time i got there, plus i would have spent $2,000 in gas.

You might want to consider trying to ride shotgun. Then you would only have to worry about the plane ticket and supplies to help the driver out. It would also help you get your feet wet so to speak.

 

[Mark W]

Hey everyone.

I'm sitting here tonight trying to get the information/application packet finished up and ready to send out to people.

Let's see if I can respond to all the comments that have come in since I last bounced through here in one post.



There's nothing that comes to mind about the Milepost that I would single out for attention. Maybe a good idea to take a look at whatever info it has about Tok and the stretch beyond Tok. The trailhead we will use is at the Tok River highway crossing. About 20 miles out of Tok and 20 miles short of Mentasta. Maybe closer to Mentasta than that... not worth it to me tonight to put the effort nto checking closely right now.

The ferry doesn't really save you much (if any?) time or money. Beautiful trip. But do it for the experience, not for any travel benefits.






Best time I have ever made from Portland to Palmer is two and a half days. Driving a Saab 9000 Turbo. Driving it pretty hard and grabbing a little sleep, stretched out in the car with the seats laid down.

Now, Tok is a bit short of Palmer. About 200-250 miles IIRC. And Portland is south of Seattle of course. But there is now way I would plan on making it in the 39 hours that Google says. ??? Especially in a Cruiser. Especially especially if I was planning on spending a week on the trail as soon as I got there.


Audie, I'm hoping to maybe actually come off the trail via Fish Lake trail or One mile Creek Trail. We'll definitely stop by if that happens. Wouldn't want to banned from Paxon after all.

IF we can make it work that way, we might do an optional run across the Denali Highway for anyone interested.


No promises at this point, But I'm considering offering a couple of rigs up for rental use during the Trek. It was suggested by one of the Crew that we auction the use of one as a fund raiser for a rig we are rehabbing for a guy who's servng over in Iraq right now. Gonna surprise him with a very much reworked rig when he gets come for Christmas. I don't know that we will have time to do this as a fundraiser for this project. But having the rigs ready for the Trek itself won't be an issue.


Mark...

 

[semlin]

ok, came close last time and I am doing it for sure this year if you will have me Mark.

I'll add some new bigger rubber to the 80 for this.

what would your view be of dragging an m101 trailer behind the 80?

 

[Mark W]

I have (and probably will this time too) pulled an M416 over these trails with about 1200-1300 pounds of fuel and a few supplies behind a V8 powered mini-truck. No problems to mention. It towed wonderfully. I had to disconnect one time when I got the rig mired in a "quicksand" sand bar in an eddied spot on one of the river crossings. Couldn't extract the truck with the trailer attached so we winched the truck forward and the trailer backwards.

Other than that it worked great. This is not going to be a Hardcore Challenge type of trip. You '80 should pull an M101cdn over most of the run with little problem. I can think of a couple of spots where it will be a handicap, but overall it should be okay, and we won't disallow it.


Mark...

 

[semlin]

awesome, then i am definitely in. this has made my week.